Washington DC

The choice of where to site the Capital of the USA came about mostly through the determination of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. His perseverance and persuasion led to a site on the Potomac River being chosen.

On July 16, 1790 an act of Congress was passed establishing the location of America's capital city at a place called Conococheague by the Native Americans after a boundary stream.

The new capital was named "Washington DC" in honor of the President, George Washington who was given the power to define the exact boundaries within a ten square mile area. The city was planned and surveyed by an architect and engineer of French extraction, Pierre Charles L'Enfant.

This site was designated a "district" and is not a state. D C stands for District of Colombia after Christopher Columbus the discoverer of America. Some people prefer the spelling "capitol"



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